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Beware car insurance that doesn’t offer second car no claims

28 March 2008 / by Rachael Stiles

Drivers can add almost 70 per cent to their car insurance premiums if they cover a second car with an insurer that doesn’t mirror their no claims bonus, moneysupermarket.com has found.

Of the UK’s 10 biggest car insurance providers, moneysupermarket.com has found that approximately only half offer drivers the same no claims bonus on their second car as on their first, but the other half of drivers are paying over the odds to insure their second car, sometimes 67 per cent or more. Some insurance companies will asses each case on an individual basis, or attach other conditions to the policy.

"It is a little known fact that many insurers now allow you to mirror your no claims discount from one car to the next." Richard Mason, director of insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said. "The most common question on our forums is 'why can't I use my no claims discount on two cars?' It is a good question and thankfully one that more and more insurers are starting to wake up to.

"If you are thinking of having more than one car in your household, it is prudent to choose an insurer that allows you to make the most of your NCD. Hopefully all insurers will soon follow suit on this."

In order to save as much as possible on car insurance, Gocompare.com has urged drivers not to become ‘april fools’, and suggested some ways to keep the costs down, such as installing an alarm or immobiliser, shopping around, and never providing incorrect or misleading information which could lead to the policy becoming invalid.

Hayley Parsons, Gocompare’s Managing Director said, "Insurance represents a significant part of the cost of running a car these days, so everyone is looking for savings."

"One of the best ways to save money on your insurance is not to just accept your renewal quote; the best company for you 12 months ago, may not be the best today. I’m always amazed that only around a quarter of people switch their insurer each year – potentially throwing away hundreds of pounds."

Swiftcover.com also suggests that gadget-mad Brits don’t leave their valuables on display in their cars, as this makes them easy pickings for opportunist thieves. Research found that 96 per cent of drivers leave valuables in their car, and a foolish one in three regularly leave such items on full view. As a result, 21 per cent of drivers have had their cars broken into and their gadgets taken.